How Choose a topic of interest, spend a little time researching it, have a discussion, publish the notes.

Why The main benefits are the fostering of a greater understanding of the world before we die and hopefully, to prompt further thought and discussion from our listeners.

The topic we will be discussing in this show is the Beeb

Topic Overview

The British Broadcasting Corporation is the largest, oldest, most innovative[okay, whatever] and most revered media broadcasting organisation in the world. From its royal charter inception in the early 1920s, the BBC has steadfastly remained a publicly owned and financed service with national and international commercial reach. How will modern day attitudes change regarding its unique funding, allegations of bias and increasing competition from a disruptive and distributed internet? Do we love Auntie enough to continue funding her unfair advantage over the best of the rest?

Off Topic

(What we’re not talking about.)

Tattoo removal at the Vatican

Talking Points

What is the BBC? ‘The BBC is the world's leading public service broadcaster. Its mission is to enrich people's lives with programmes that inform, educate and entertain.’ From Inside the BBC

National TV and radio services for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and over 40 local radio stations for England

BBC Online www.bbc.co.uk live in December 1997

BBC World Service

Around the world, there are separate commercial ventures whose profits help fund BBC public services, including BBC Worldwide, and BBC World News.

The Royal Charter

(Section 4) The Public Purposes of the BBC are as follows

(a) sustaining citizenship and civil society;

(b) promoting education and learning;

(c) stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;

(d) representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities;

(e) bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK;

(f) in promoting its other purposes, helping to deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services and, in addition, taking a leading role in the switchover to digital television.

Fake fairness

The BBC strives to be fair to all - fair to those our output is about, fair to contributors, and fair to our audiences. BBC content should be based on respect, openness and straight dealing. We also have an obligation under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code to "avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes". - Rule 7.1, Ofcom Broadcasting Code BBC Editorial Guidelines

Outdated? The words 'lumbering' and 'creaking' spring to mind

Current Director General Tony Hall - Lord Hall of Birkenhead, previously the director of the royal opera house

The BBC engineered the world’s first live broadcast in September 30, 1929

Live 4K broadcasting directly over ethernet

BBC2, 1979: the world's first computer generated ‘ident’

Sanctimonious, balance, euphemism, smug, blames western society and particularly america for everything wrong with the world

Multicultural diversity metropolitan middle class left misrepresenting ideas counter to their agenda as bigotry and racism

Revenue ¼ from BBC World international sales

License fee‘Everyone in the UK who watches or records TV programmes at the same as they are shown on TV needs to be covered by a TV licence. This includes TVs, computers, mobile phones, games consoles, digital boxes and DVD/VHS recorders.’

Currently £149.50 per year or £49 if you can prove you only have a black & white telly. According to a 2014 blog post on the National Media Museum web site, there are less than 12,000 B&W tellies actively being used.

Ofcom

Programming highlights

Documentaries

Panel programmes

Film

Scandal

Jimmy Saville

Top Gear

Richard Bacon’s cocaine fracas

Absolute crap:

Jonathan Ross et al.

Chris Evans et al.

Two Pints of Lager and Packet of Crisps Please (groan)

Loads of other stuff, I cannot possibly list everything that sucks ass

Jargon

The Beeb

Auntie

Licence fee payer Anyone with equipment capable of receiving and displaying live broadcasts

Ident Identifying logo

Wrap Up

Details about site, contacts, next show: Climate change

Outro music choice - BBC Radio 4 Theme. This medley was broadcast before the early morning farming programming between 1978 and 2006. It comprises a medley of classical themes.